In today’s society, most people associate divorce proceedings with extreme forms of despair. So people completely disillusioned with family relationships only take such drastic measures as a last resort when all possibilities of civilized resolutions between spouses in the marriage have been exhausted.
Still, divorce proceedings have become widespread in recent decades within this country and around the world. Along with this, the management of divorce procedures has become one of the most demanded legal services in the United States.
As for the general statistics on getting a divorce in Maryland, the picture here is also very indicative. According to official demographic data researched by Statista, in 2019, the state divorce rate was 2.7 divorces per thousand inhabitants. This figure is down from 1990 when the divorce rate was 3.4 divorces per thousand inhabitants. Such data also clearly demonstrates the demand for this option in the legal field.
Traditional formats of divorce proceedings involve hired lawyers who are ready to control the process at all stages, from initiation and filing for divorce to the final resolution of the local court. And in Maryland, clients have many opportunities to entrust their divorce cases to real professionals, but the main disadvantage of such procedures is their high cost.
Fortunately, Maryland family law allows and encourages clients to use supportive tools and services that can significantly simplify divorce case management and reduce the overall budget. The rest of this article is about some of the features of family law in Maryland and the main benefits of using online divorce paperwork services.
Some Key Features of Maryland Divorce Options and Forms
It should be noted that the options for filing for divorce in Maryland have some conceptual differences from similar procedures in other states. For example, the definition of the parties to the process and their roles differ from the more widespread ones. The petitioner, a person who files for divorce, is usually called a “plaintiff,” and the respondent, the other party, is usually called a “defendant.”
Also, the primary forms of divorce in Maryland are commonly referred to as “limited divorce” and “absolute divorce.” The concept of limited divorce is consonant with the more widely recognized idea of the legal separation of spouses. Through this format, the couple is separated while remaining legally married. In contrast, an absolute divorce is what is typically referred to as a divorce or a marriage dissolution in other states.
There are residency requirements for filing for divorce in Maryland. At least one of the spouses is required to permanently reside in the state for at least six months prior to filing the petition. Additionally, Maryland law requires the divorcing couple to live apart for at least one year before filing for divorce. Otherwise, the plaintiff must provide the local court with fault grounds for the divorce.
The fault-based divorce option is less popular than the simplified form of filing a no-fault divorce, although it is legal and applicable in the state. The list of fault grounds or reasons for divorce in Maryland may include adultery, insanity involving commitment to a mental institution, cruelty, or vicious conduct. Before filing for a fault divorce, it is highly recommended to consult with a licensed state attorney to determine whether the grounds are sufficient.
Uncontested Divorce in Maryland and the Advantages of Web Divorce Services
The desire of divorcing spouses to simplify the management of their divorce cases while saving time and money and making the procedures less exhausting and painful is understandable and logical. In this regard, the most effective tool is the qualification of a divorce case as uncontested.
The uncontested case format assumes the obligatory achievement of a mutual agreement between the spouses regarding all possible points that could cause litigation, disagreements, or claims between the parties in the future. The clauses of such an agreement often include the division and subsequent distribution of joint property, custody of children, payment of alimony, and other matrimonial financial obligations.
Among the obvious benefits of this format is the possibility to simplify filing for divorce, reduce the number of court visits, and the ability to have a fast and affordable divorce. In most cases, it is even possible to avoid legal services and manage the whole process without an attorney as a “do-it-yourself” divorce.
An additional but very valuable advantage of an uncontested divorce format is an opportunity to cooperate with helpful online divorce documents preparation services. So-called “divorce over the internet” is an online option for significantly simplifying the process of selecting and preparing the appropriate divorce papers.
The algorithms used by these web divorce applications are designed to ensure that the user receives a ready-made solution for filing divorce documents with the local court. After completing a questionnaire, the paperwork is generated based on the information submitted, according to the requirements of the court. As a rule, the full package of documents provided by the service requires a fixed one-time payment, which is significantly lower than the estimated minimum budget for the traditional form of filing for divorce.
